Do it intentionally, considering what your goal is (learn names, learn to work with each other, storm, better communication, strengthen big overall team trust/feeling or individual subteam communication, split up friends/siblings and have them develop their own personalities, introduce a new topic), where the students are in terms of levels of trust, communication and GP, what would be most beneficial for the group as a whole.
There's a really good intro to team building and things facilitators need to consider in this book ("Team Building Activities for the Digital Age") that you can read on Amazon (don't know how good the book itself is but the intro for facilitators is really good):
Trust (characteristic, not a tool, but essential to a healthy team)
How to brainstorm (everyone's voice is heard and considered)
Responsibility and within-team leadership (organic leadership, not titled leadership)
Working towards team goals
How to encourage and support each other (nudging)
Definition of nudging from Team PyroTech:
What is nudging?
Nudgers have two responsibilities on our team:
1. To make sure everyone on the team is engaged, learning and feeling part of what’s going on
2. To take their own ownership in getting the project completed by the deadline
Nudgers can fulfill their responsibility by:
a. Nudging… asking questions, pushing forward, reminding people to get back on task, keeping track of the time
b. Not nudging… stepping back and letting others take the lead and talk through problems without disturbing the process
Most important thing: Everyone on the team is a nudger!
Team Building Resources
>>>>> Back to... Learning Styles and Team Building
Key to team building:
Do it intentionally, considering what your goal is (learn names, learn to work with each other, storm, better communication, strengthen big overall team trust/feeling or individual subteam communication, split up friends/siblings and have them develop their own personalities, introduce a new topic), where the students are in terms of levels of trust, communication and GP, what would be most beneficial for the group as a whole.There's a really good intro to team building and things facilitators need to consider in this book ("Team Building Activities for the Digital Age") that you can read on Amazon (don't know how good the book itself is but the intro for facilitators is really good):
Favorite team building book:
Pinterest board on team building
http://pinterest.com/lifesgeodes/team-building/
Invent a Vehicle to Transport Hazardous Waste
Team Building Challenge done at Sept 2012 Mentor Meeting in Greensboro
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XAswJNlIHpLju1HKxKnRauXhkcSkba18IFc9e6gFy4k/edit#
Tools that individuals use within a healthy team:
Nudgers have two responsibilities on our team:
1. To make sure everyone on the team is engaged, learning and feeling part of what’s going on
2. To take their own ownership in getting the project completed by the deadline
Nudgers can fulfill their responsibility by:
a. Nudging… asking questions, pushing forward, reminding people to get back on task, keeping track of the time
b. Not nudging… stepping back and letting others take the lead and talk through problems without disturbing the process
Most important thing: Everyone on the team is a nudger!